Gone are the days when having a foreign coach in any sporting discipline in India was deemed a necessity. At long last the ministry of youth affairs and sports, through its operational wing Sports Authority of India, has declared that all foreign coaches will be evaluated by not just in-house experts but also the trainees themselves.
Indeed a welcome step since the "self-evaluation" clause is a throwback to the Soviet era when most coaches came to India under cultural exchange programmes, hence virtually free since their remuneration was taken care by the home country. The collapse of the Iron Curtain and dismemberment of the erstwhile Soviet Bloc put an end to the "friendly" exchange even though the employment of foreign coaches continued with the same gusto!
Realisation seems to have finally dawned upon the MYAS and SAI that the fat salaries paid to coaches from abroad can, in certain cases, be better spent on improved training and infrastructure development.
After all, as one former national player as well as coach put it, it's not easy to handle an Indian team given the geographical and cultural diversity of the country. Players from the north tend to be more aggressive compared to their southern counterparts. Diverse eating habits and lifestyle also needs to be understood before the eclectic mix is thrown into the cauldron called national camp.
A definite eye-opener was Team India's experience with former Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell, who tried to be more skipper than mentor! Board of Control for Cricket in India has since then tried a mixed bag from South African Gary Kirsten to current coach Ravi Shastri with pretty sound results!
Coaching worldwide is as much about man-management as skill and strategy training. With a fairly well-equipped staff of physical trainers and psychiatrists all available with SAI, it was only a matter of time when the role of foreign coaches came under scrutiny.
It's an encouraging start that the person whose salary and expenses will be borne by SAI must be accountable for improved results. Wards will be able to assess and provide feedback on the performance of the foreign coaches, rather than the monthly self-appraisal that was hitherto the norm.
A professional approach is certainly required both from coaches as well as players and both need to be working in tandem for best results. There have, no doubt, been significant contributors across most sports disciplines especially in raising fitness levels and improving strategic awareness.
Bagging an Indian coaching assignment will no longer be a bed of roses, even though it is a challenge that many outside the country appear quite willing to accept! Reforms are the order of the day and one can only hope for better foreign coaches whenever and wherever required.
Indeed a welcome step since the "self-evaluation" clause is a throwback to the Soviet era when most coaches came to India under cultural exchange programmes, hence virtually free since their remuneration was taken care by the home country. The collapse of the Iron Curtain and dismemberment of the erstwhile Soviet Bloc put an end to the "friendly" exchange even though the employment of foreign coaches continued with the same gusto!
Realisation seems to have finally dawned upon the MYAS and SAI that the fat salaries paid to coaches from abroad can, in certain cases, be better spent on improved training and infrastructure development.
After all, as one former national player as well as coach put it, it's not easy to handle an Indian team given the geographical and cultural diversity of the country. Players from the north tend to be more aggressive compared to their southern counterparts. Diverse eating habits and lifestyle also needs to be understood before the eclectic mix is thrown into the cauldron called national camp.
A definite eye-opener was Team India's experience with former Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell, who tried to be more skipper than mentor! Board of Control for Cricket in India has since then tried a mixed bag from South African Gary Kirsten to current coach Ravi Shastri with pretty sound results!
Coaching worldwide is as much about man-management as skill and strategy training. With a fairly well-equipped staff of physical trainers and psychiatrists all available with SAI, it was only a matter of time when the role of foreign coaches came under scrutiny.
It's an encouraging start that the person whose salary and expenses will be borne by SAI must be accountable for improved results. Wards will be able to assess and provide feedback on the performance of the foreign coaches, rather than the monthly self-appraisal that was hitherto the norm.
A professional approach is certainly required both from coaches as well as players and both need to be working in tandem for best results. There have, no doubt, been significant contributors across most sports disciplines especially in raising fitness levels and improving strategic awareness.
Bagging an Indian coaching assignment will no longer be a bed of roses, even though it is a challenge that many outside the country appear quite willing to accept! Reforms are the order of the day and one can only hope for better foreign coaches whenever and wherever required.
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